Wine and culinary tourism marketing campaign

With funds from a new lodging tax, the McMinnville City Council approved a grant to the MDA (McMinnville Downtown Association) for a 2015 wine and culinary tourism marketing campaign. Creative Company was chosen to provide strategy, creative and implementation.

The integrated campaign launched in March, 2015 with a new website at tastemac.com and a full page ad in a local publication. Known by locals as “Mac,” McMinnville was already receiving great press. The numbers said it all.

As Terry Richard of The Oregonian noted, “How can a town of 33,000 have so many good restaurants in such a compact area? Simple. Tourists come from around the world to explore Oregon wine country, and McMinnville is the epicenter.”

Strategy-based tourism marketing

 

Our goal was to showcase “what’s in it for me?” from the visitor’s point of view. We wanted to reach people in McMinnville and entice the right kind of visitors–those looking for an exceptional food and wine destination.

We planned and designed a regional magazine advertising campaign for March through December, 2015; social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with the hashtags #tastemac, #winemac, #dinemac, #brewmac and #strollmac; and an online AdWords campaign to drive interested visitors back to the mobile-friendly website.

We considered what we could put in people’s hands and messages to tie print ads into the online experience. We also provided marketing tools to campaign participants so they could promote Taste Mac directly to their visitors.

A simple website organized around dine, wine, brew, stroll and reviews

As a critical point of choice for those already in town or those seeking an exceptional food and wine destination, the website was the center of the strategy. Every downtown food spot, wine or beer place has a listing on the website which links from a photo of their sign to details about location, menu, pricing, more.

A visitor can click on their choice and map themselves quickly to what they’re looking for. AdWords from March through November drove traffic from out of the area to the website.

A simple map was designed for the rack card and placed on the website to quickly show how many choices line Third Street and the Pinot Quarter.

The website includes a “stroll” page with photos of downtown. A compilation of the many outstanding reviews of McMinnville adds more detail.

The site helps travelers understand why they’ll want to stop in McMinnville on the way to the Oregon coast, make Mac a weekend destination, or linger for a week.

After all, it will take more than a day to sip, taste and see everything in McMinnville, Oregon’s Favorite Main Street.

Power and design in the numbers

The tourism marketing campaign focused on the impressive numbers highlighted in large blocks of color—34 unique restaurants, 17 wineries and tasting rooms and 7 breweries and tap rooms in 14 blocks.

Ads and printed pieces use the bold color blocks to grab attention and show easy access to excellent spots to dine, wine, brew and stroll.



Appealing photos of food, wine, eateries and the charming streetscape help tell the story online and in print.

Quotes from the enthusiastic reviews McMinnville has received were the focus of copy on each ad.
Publications were chosen for their reach to high-end audiences seeking upscale dining and wine tasting. Choosing well-designed publications with a long shelf life also extended the reach and impact of the ad campaign.

Local promotion and visibility for tourism marketing

An 11 x 17 poster was placed around town to encourage visitors to use the website and remind them of wine, dine and brew choices in McMinnville.

Locally posters line famed Third Street, coasters emblazoned with the hashtags and website and static clings in store and restaurant windows remind locals and visitors of the 58 places they should try.
Tasting rooms, restaurants, breweries, coffee shops and retailers along Third Street and in the Granary District and Pinot Quarter all encourage visitors to use the tastemac.com website to discover new spots for dining, wining and enjoying a brew or two.

Visitors were already arriving in McMinnville. We wanted to give them the tools and information to make the most of their experience.

The website and campaign compiled useful details into one easy-to-use tool. Viewing and choosing a place to dine or taste wine was simplified.
Locals have found huge value in the information compiled on the website and the simple way to find details.

Just wanted you to know that tastemac.com was a hit on Parents’s Weekend and beyond. Really! I promoted this to all staff right after the meeting at Barberry and they really got into it. We included it prominently in our Parent Info Brochure, and I made QR codes and signs and posted them in our reception area. Visitors and faculty alike have been using it, and in my follow-up visits to MDA stores and restaurants, I have found that MDA members noted the flood of Delphians. — Mark Siegel, Assistant Headmaster, Delphian School

Creative Company’s strategy, planning, design and copy

We’re thrilled with the response we’ve seen from this comprehensive tourism marketing campaign. The visitor numbers, buzz and continued accolades have proved our strategy worked.
With our office located in McMinnville, we’re big fans of the many excellent wine, dine and brew options we have to explore. And we’re happy to continue our “homework” as new spots open!